Digital Immigration Status (eVisa)

Your Student Visa and Digital Immigration Status (eVisa)

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is getting rid of physical visa documents, such as passport vignette stickers and Biometric Residence Permits (BRP cards). This is all being replaced by a digital immigration status known as an eVisa, which will be proof of your Student Visa.

For a detailed explanation of what an eVisa is and how it works, you can watch the official UKVI video "What is an eVisa?"

Setting up an eVisa is free.

The benefits of eVisas include:

• Security: eVisas are secure and cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with, unlike physical documents.
• Easier Status Verification: It should be quicker and simpler to prove your immigration status at the UK border and to share this information with employers and landlords.

New Students

The UK Government now issues Student Visas, and most other visa types as a digital evisa.  If you are from outside of the European Economic Area; then you can expect to receive a vignette sticker in your passport with a short period of Student Visa on it when your visa application is approved.  At the same time, you will be invited to create a UKVI account and access your digital evisa which will show the full duration of the Student Visa on it.  If you are an EEA national, then in most instances, you will be issued with a digital evisa only (you do not get a vignette sticker in your passport). Make sure to follow the instructions carefully so that you can access your evisa.

Students who are already in the UK and had a BRP issued at the start of their studies

You should set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa before your BRP expires. To learn more about eVisas and how to create your account, visit the UKVI eVisa page. You can start setting up your eVisa account by going to the "Get access to your eVisa" page.

Follow these instructions to create a UKVI account and link it to your eVisa.

For a step-by-step visual guide, you can watch the official UKVI video on "How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa".

You can view and prove your immigration status.

After setting up your UKVI account, you can view your eVisa to check information about your Student Visa, including its expiry date and your conditions of stay in the UK.

To log in to your UKVI account, you will need details of the identity document you used to sign in (such as your passport, national identity card, or biometric residence card or permit), your date of birth, and access to the mobile number or email linked to your account.

You’ll also have the option to share your immigration status through the “view and prove” service by creating a share code. This code grants temporary access to your information on the UKVI system. A new code is generated each time. You will then be able to share this code securely with third parties, such as employers or landlords/agents to prove your right to work or rent in the UK.

Your passport must be linked to your eVisa for travelling purposes.

Your eVisa should be linked with your passport through your UKVI account.

If you get a new passport, you must add it to your UKVI account. If you don’t update your account with the new passport details you may find you cannot board your plane, so make sure to do this before you travel.

To help you understand the process better, you can watch the UKVI video on "How to Travel With Your eVisa”.

The Home Office is making arrangements so that carriers, including transport operators such as airlines, ferries, and international train services, can  check passengers' immigration status when they present their passport linked to their UKVI account. This will allow them to verify your eVisa with your passport.

Keep your UKVI account up to date

You can update your details online through the government webpage Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details.

You should update your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account if you’ve changed your:

• Passport (see above)
• Mobile phone number
• Email address
• Name
• Identity document, such as your passport or national identity card
• Home address
• Postal address

Please note that you cannot update your identity document or name while waiting for a visa decision.

By regularly checking and updating your account, you can make sure that your immigration status is correctly reflected and accessible when needed.

Mistakes on your eVisa

If you notice any mistakes on your eVisa regarding the following details, you can use this form to report them to UKVI:

• name
• sponsor reference
• photo
• National Insurance number
• visa restrictions - these say what you can and cannot do in the UK
• immigration status
• valid until date

If you need more information or advice, please contact International Student Advice Service.